Sunbath12:
I'm glad he still had some people to be with him and help him.
Yes, hopefully even though TSZ no longer had a trustworthy parental authority figure to turn to for the rest of his childhood, he could at least rely on Hu Zhen and Jing Ye to look out for his best interests and behave as much like parents to him as they could given that he was effectively their boss.
And hopefully CX will continue to kept the Tushan clan elders (and outside factions that wanted to sow discord within the clan) in line so that they don't cause TSZ too much trouble and manage as much of the Tushan clan's affairs as possible so that TSZ would still be able to have some semblance of a childhood before he comes of age and has to take on the full scope of that heavy responsibility.
Even though it wasn't shown in the novel, I also really hope he had some good friends by his side. Especially since he didn't have any siblings or other family.
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Chapter 44:
Xiao Yao asked about the Tu Shan clan situation and Zhuan Xu said, “It’s a bit of a mess. Tu Shan Zhen is the successor in name but the clan elders know he isn’t Jing’s real son so they are complicating things with their plotting. The Tu Shan clan is a prime piece of flesh that everyone wants a bite out of, and the world would be thrilled to see internal strife in the clan so they are fanning the discord.”
Zhuan Xu never mentioned Jing actively but if Xiao Yao asked then he discussed it directly. He was like a doctor treating a patient, he didn’t hide the injury but also didn’t actively exacerbate it. He knew Xiao Yao was very sensitive to any mention of Jing’s death but he chose not to shy away from the subject now.
Xiao Yao asked, “Can you get involved with the Tu Shan clan situation?”
“Of course I can’t openly, but neither can the other players. So everyone is getting involved behind the scenes.”
Xiao Yao said, “As long as I am alive, I don’t want the Tu Shan clan to fall.”
Zhuan Xu asked, “What do you want to do?”
Xiao Yao said, “Tu Shan Zhen is not Jing’s son but he is the bloodline of the Tu Shan clan. I think the Tu Shan Grand Madam would not have objected to him being the clan leader.”
Zhuan Xu asked, “His parents killed Jing, don’t you hate him?”
Xiao Yao was silent for some time before saying, “If Hou was still alive I could cut him into millions of pieces, but Tu Shan Zhen is just a child and he did nothing wrong. You and I know what it’s like to grow up without parents, and his birth isn’t something good to begin with so his life is already going to be hard. If he can’t be the clan leader then others will likely harm him one day. He is the successor in name and blood, I don’t want Jing to come back one day and have Zhen gone.”
Zhuan Xu was startled into silence by Xiao Yao’s words, but after a few moments he smiled, “Fine, let Tu Shan Zhen be the clan leader then.”
Xiao Yao said, “Thank you.”
...
Feng Long chuckled, Xiao Yao really had a way of thinking that was always different from other people. He could never understand her thought process. Perhaps the only one who understood her was Jing, but……Feng Long’s smile turned down. “The Tu Shan elders have agreed to let Tu Shan Zhen become clan leader, and will assist and support him until he comes of age. The elders handle the Tu Shan clan affairs together, and with His Majesty’s support, the Tu Shan clan can manage until Zhen grows up.”
Zhuan Xu had already told this to her so Xiao Yao didn’t believe Feng Long came all this way just to tell her this. She silently stared at him.
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Chapter 50:
Jing asked Hu Zhen, “How is Zhen Er?”
“Good, very good!” Hu Zhen recounted all that happened to make Tu Shan Zhen the new clan leader and finished, “The new Clan leader may be the son of Tu Shan Hou and Fang Feng Yi Yang, but he was raised by you so has your bearing. I believe he will be a great clan leader.”
Jing Ye added, “We decided to tell him the truth because of all the rumors being circulated and he was bound to hear it. We handed him the letter from Fang Feng Yi Yang early and after learning his birth secret he was so devastated for some time. But he composed himself and accepted that his birth parents were in the wrong and still calls you dad and refers to Hou as his uncle.”
Jing said, “Death ends everything so when you guys have time, tell him stories of my brother when we were young and how close we were. Let him understand that my brother had his own reason for doing what he did, and that it was his grandmother who was wrong in the first.”
Jing Ye hated Hou so much but now that Jing was back she was able to start letting go. “I will do so.”
Hu Zhen saw through the underlying request, “Why not have you tell him? Are you planning to leave Qing Qiu?”
Jing smiled. “Tonight I came to say my farewells.”
Jing Ye started crying again as Hu Zhen asked, “Where are you going?”
Jing glanced at Xiao Yao. “I go wherever Xiao Yao goes.”
Hu Zhen held back saying more, now the Tu Shan clan was stable and the road that Jing and Xiao Yao took was so long and arduous.
Jing handed two jade cannisters to Hu Zhen. “One is for Zhen Er and the other to the clan elders.”
Hu Zhen took it carefully. “Don’t worry, we will protect and serve the clan leader until he is all grown up.”